There are a number of reasons to use London relocation companies. Moving to London is a great adventure. It can be one of the most exciting things you’ll ever do, but it can also be quite scary to have to organize an international relocation by yourself. There are some excellent London relocation companies that will handle all of the details of your move and make sure that you are settled into your new London apartment.

Use London Relocation Companies To Find Apartments

The first thing that you’ll have to organize when you move to London is a place to stay. While your new employer may have organized you some form of temporary accommodation, you’ll want to get settled into your own place as fast as possible. London relocation companies specialize in exactly that: Finding you a home as fast as possible. If this is your first time abroad, or even if you have visited London before, you’ll find that it’s a lot different being a Londoner than being a tourist.

London Relocation Companies Help With Organization

Choosing a neighborhood is going to be the biggest step, and if you don’t have a clue as to the differences between Kensington and Kent, then you may want to get an expert to help you decide. The biggest part of finding the right home is to establish what you want from your neighborhood or community. There is a big difference if you’re moving to London as a ‘swinging single’ or if you’re moving with your children. You may have to live in a certain neighborhood to be able to get your children into a specific school.

Transport is also going to pay a large part in where you eventually settle. Be sure to tell your London relocation companies just how far you’re prepared to commute each day to get to work and back. Moving to London doesn’t have to be a hassle if you have people who know what they’re doing, and more importantly people who know London. Its’ a massive city and you could do with the inside scoop from professional London relocation companies to make your move easy.

Tips for relocation to London can include anything from banking to buying appliances, but one that is sometimes forgotten in the excitement of moving to this vibrant city is personal safety. Relocation to London means that you’re moving to one of the most vibrant, exciting and fascinating cities in the world. It’s cultural centre for Europe, a financial powerhouse and all in all, a city that has a lot to offer to a lot of people. That said, like any big city, it still has its drawbacks, an obvious one of which is crime.

Safety Tips For Relocation To London

It stands to reason that any city that attracts people because of the wealth of things that it offers also runs the risk of attracting a few bad apples, and this is as much the case with London as it is with other cities around the world. The risk of falling victim to crime is increased should you be new to the city and not have an understanding of what precautions you can take to avoid becoming a victim or what to do should you be unfortunate enough to become one.

In light of that, here are a few tips for relocation to London and personal safety.

• Depending on how familiar you are with London, it might be a good idea to ask advice from someone with experience living here on how to go about doing things safely. This can include what kind of places to avoid and anything else you’re uncertain of.

• You’ll often see London’s policemen (the Bobbies) all over the city, due to their characteristic uniforms. If you feel unsafe or if you’ve been the victim of a crime, find the nearest policeman and ask for their assistance. They’ve been trained precisely for this and will be glad to help you however they can.

Tips For Relocation To London And Emergency Numbers

• If you’re going out for a night on the town, be sure of how you’ll be getting home. Being safe means planning for the unexpected.

• Try memorizing the city’s emergency telephone numbers. 999 is the UK counterpart to the US’ 911. You never know when you might be in a position to need it.

Lastly, the very best tips for relocation to London is to use your common sense. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Trust your instincts. Moving to London is like moving to any new city and being safety conscious can go some way to making your stay a happy one.

It’s not as easy at it seems. When you’re looking at moving to London visas, you need to start planning a long time ahead of your intended departure date.

Moving To London Visa Applications

First of all moving to London obviously implies that you’re looking at something pretty long-term in terms of employment. That leaves two categories that you’ll need to qualify for in order to work in London (and the UK in general): High value immigrants and Skilled Workers (they are otherwise referred to as Tier 1 and Tier 2).

Moving To London Visa Types

To qualify for Tier 1 or the High Value category, you’ll have to be recognised as exceptionally talented in terms of contributions to society such as the arts and the sciences. Also falling under this category are entrepreneurs, investors and students seeking employment following their graduation from a UK university.

Tier 2 (Skilled Workers) generally applies to people who already have a job secured for them. You’ll be required to show proof of this employment for official purposes. This category also applies to people who are ministers of a religion and establish sportspersons like coaches and players who can make a significant contribution to their particular fields as well as those working for multinational companies being transferred to the UK.

Unless you’re one of the exceptional few whose contribution to society is so inarguable that you qualify without a second thought to the Tier 1 group, it’s more likely that you’ll be in the Tier 2 category. In that case, you’ll have to be very certain of being employed once you reach the UK. If you don’t know who it is employing you, do background checks and otherwise ask around to have an idea of how things will go once you reach the UK. In addition, bear in mind that an employer would have to prove that they could find a UK person to fill the position you were hired for, another possible obstacle to your efforts.

When you’re planning your relocation to London it may well be that you have been offered a job and your moving to London visas will be sorted out by your new employer. If your spouse or partner wants to work in the UK you’ll have to do a bit of planning to make it happen.

Author:  Colleen

When you move to London, if you haven’t been there before, you have to make the British Museum one of your first stops (the beauty of working with a London relocation company like London Relocation, after all, is finding your London apartment and getting settled in quickly so you can play sooner!). Established over 250 years ago, the museum houses global treasures, not just those exemplifying what makes Britain great.

“But hold up,” you might be thinking. “Didn’t you mention something about manga in the title?”

“Why, yes,” I say, “yes, I did. Thank you for paying such close attention!”

“What’s with all this stodgy museum-talk, then?” you reply—in a rather snippy tone, I might add. But I forgive you. I’ll get on with it so you can finish reading this before you have to pack up the computer you’re using right now to actually move to London…

Move to London – The British Museum Gets With the Times

Just so you know, if you move to London, there’s nothing stodgy about London museums, least of all the British Museum. Sure, I might have stifled a yawn in my day over the hundred-year-old taxidermy still propped up in cases at institutions even as cool as Chicago’s Field Museum, but one thing that never gets boring since my move to London is seeing the Rosetta Stone at the British Museum. It’s the freaking Rosetta Stone, people. And sculptures from the Parthenon, and Egyptian statues and mummies, and Assyrian and Asian and African artifacts and art, and, and…(a special prize is awarded to whoever is first to correctly count all the words starting with A in that last sentence).

At any rate, there’s no question that what’s old at the British Museum is quite impressive, but it’s what’s new that is impressing me most today. It’s been a while since I’ve dorked out on those of you planning a move to London with my London Literacy blog posts, but you’re in for a treat because today I just finished reading my latest London-related book: Professor Munakata’s British Museum Adventure, by popular Japanese manga artist Hoshino Yukinobu. The British Museum has really upped its hip factor in not only holding special exhibits on the relatively modern manga art form but taking it a step further and actually publishing its own manga book in collaboration with Yukinobu.

Move to London – Professor Munakata’s British Museum Adventure

I’ve visited the British Museum several times since my move to London, but I first stumbled on this little manga gem in March while touring the—guess what?!—British Museum with my sister and niece. My nephew didn’t join them on this visit, and we were having a tough time brainstorming a London souvenir that he would enjoy. As a teenage boy who loves manga, my nephew would’ve loved to see the original drawings on display at the museum, so we made a point to view them ourselves in his honor—what a bonus, then, to learn that museum-inspired drawings of Yukinobu’s Professor Munakata character were available in a book of ten manga episodes on sale in the museum book store! Souvenir for nephew? Check. Buy an extra copy for myself? Check. (Well, actually I ended up ordering it for half-price at Amazon.co.uk, but shhh…don’t tell the museum store…or my sister who paid full price for her son’s copy.)

The long and short of it is that Hoshino Yukinobu had been invited to visit the British Museum in London in 2009 for a particular Japanese exhibit, and this visit ended up inspiring three Professor Munakata drawings that were themselves put on display. It was in 2010 that the manga artist returned for a second visit that inspired an entire storyline, and, after being given exclusive access to the British Museum and its collection, his creative, intelligent mind and artistic talent ultimately produced Professor Munakata’s British Museum Adventure.

This was my first official foray into manga, and it was such a new and imaginative means of appreciating a country that has already mesmerized my eyes, mind, and heart. Manga is a means of uniting ideas with images (and even sound), and the story Yukinobu has woven is well researched and cleverly crafted, blending historic and fictitious elements into a smart and exciting puzzle…and, yes, adventure.

Move to London – Featured London Sites

What a concept…*SPOILER ALERT!*…the Stonehenge megaliths stolen and used to “bomb” London’s own St. Paul’s Cathedral and Great Court at the British Museum…all in the interest of stealing the museum’s Rosetta Stone…a grand heist funded by nations intent on the repatriation of their national treasures as historically seized by Britain (which is actually true—well, the desire for repatriation of artifacts, not the funding of any illegal activity to do so!)…and the museum’s own medieval Lewis Chessmen pieces used as clues planted throughout. Brilliant! Reading this manga will only make your British Museum visit that much more engaging—especially for your youngsters if you move to London with a family.

Related articles

• Find A Flat In London – Visit The British Museum In London (londonrelocationservices.com)
• London Flats – Facts About London’s Culture (londonrelocationservices.com)
• After Searching London Flats – Get Out and Tour the Town (londonrelocationservices.com)

Your checklist for relocation to London will eventually include hundreds of things to do, places to go and people to see; and that’s just before you arrive. If you can get some professional help checking off your checklist for relocation to London you’ll be in a much better position to hit the ground running as soon as you touch down at Heathrow. Here’s a couple of quick ones that you can add to the list that you’re compiling…

Checklist For Relocation To London Electrical Appliances

Check the kind of electrical supply in use at your new destination as well as norms for wall sockets and the like. And yes, it does sound fairly trivial until your laptop runs out of power and you have to hunt around for an adaptor so that you can charge it up. If you do a lot of your work from your laptop or any other kind of device, then this one goes right to the top of your list.

Checklist For Relocation To London Medical Matters

Hospitals and other related medical services – big one this. Emergencies can rear their ugly heads at any time. If the situation should arise, you want to be prepared. Find out where the nearest hospital is to the place you’re moving.  Find about things like a family GP or dentist in advance. As a general rule of thumb, if you can plan ahead in advance for something, do so. It will make your move that much smoother and clear your plate of unnecessary worries.

Checklist For Relocation To London Help

If you have friends or even friends of friends who know anyone who’s already done what you’re about to embark on, try to get in contact with them before you leave. Ask them about any issues they may have faced in moving. No doubt, they’ll have encountered a wealth of problems in the transition and their experience can only be to your benefit.

Moving to London can be the biggest adventure you embark on in your life. With a little forward planning, research and your vital checklist for relocation to London it will go smoothly. You’ll be settled into your new London rental and enjoying the city as a Londoner, in no time at all.

If you’re one of the thousands of Americans in London, one of the things that you’ll struggle to overcome is the feeling of homesickness that will sweep over you occasionally. It’s not enough to just will yourself to adapt or to focus on your work so that the aching feeling of being away from home will go away. Sometimes you’re just going to miss home and all that comes with it, like pancakes, BBQ, the 4th of July or having your family and friends over for the Super Bowl.

Americans In London Expats

It doesn’t matter either that you can make your own pancakes or buy them, that you could try getting a grill and some marinade and giving the BBQ a shot (weather withstanding), that London also has a 4^th of July on its calendar (albeit, not with quite the same fanfare) or that the Super Bowl can be broadcast over in England as well (internet streaming helps in a big way in this case).

Americans In London Groups

An adage that I really have taken to heart is that it’s not just where you go, what you do, but what matters above all is who you’re with. You’re not alone while you’re living in London. Turns out that there are over forty four thousand Americans in London. Not only that, but they get together pretty regularly and also have websites dedicated to that effect. It won’t be quite the same as walking in your mom’s front door for Thanksgiving Dinner, but spending an evening with people from back home can really help to ease the transition that comes with moving from one country to the next.

You can meet with groups as diverse as students studying in London, families that have pulled up roots to move here, an American TV Nights group (no, seriously) and all other sorts. So even if you are struggling with the big move, it helps to understand that there are others that have been there before and may even be experiencing what you’re experiencing at the same time. You can tear your hair out about the problems of moving to a new country, or you can laugh about it with Americans in London who understand.

Give it a shot. It’s like America, but in London.

Author:  Colleen

If you’re moving to London soon, the buzz is officially in the air. Walking along Regent Street yesterday between Piccadilly and Oxford Circus, it was a delight to see the Union Jack banners strung overhead like they were for last year’s Royal Wedding. One can only presume they’re up for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee coming up on June 2nd-5th and will stay up for this summer’s 2012 Olympic Games! If you are, in fact, moving to London around this time, then you’re in for both an exciting and nutty time. I’ll do my best to prepare you.

First things first: what is the jubilation for the Jubilee about?

Moving to London – The Diamond Jubilee

In a nutshell: the Queen is celebrating the 60th year of her reign as England’s monarch. 60 years. That is quite the accomplishment…contrary to what many visiting or moving to London think, it takes more than just, well, staying alive to reach this milestone.

This little woman may not be at the crux of the nation’s politics, which is the Prime Minister and Parliament’s job, but she sure has had a busy schedule to tend to her entire royal life. She’s given Royal Assent to thousands of Acts of Parliament and has attended every opening of Parliament (with the exception of two years when she was preggo). She’s the patron of over 600 charities and has conferred over 400,000 honors and awards. She’s made nearly 300 official overseas visits to over 100 countries, not to mention hosts tens of thousands of people here in Britain every year for banquets, luncheons, receptions, etc.; royal garden parties alone have accommodated nearly 1.5 million guests! Among her countless other accomplishments, Queen Elizabeth II has held the second-longest reign in England—the longest was Queen Victoria at 63 years, so hang in there, Liz! You rule! (literally)

Moving to London – The Implications for Your UK Relocation

In all honesty, if you’re moving to London in time for all the major summer events, you’ll be in the company of a lot of tourists as the locals high-tail it for holidays abroad. The Jubilee is giving us a special bank holiday weekend this year, and a long weekend is just too tempting to stay put. The prospect of a large number of tourists flooding the sidewalks and public transport is also less than appealing and drives many locals away. Be mindful that the hubbub—and summer season itself when all the kiddies are out of school—tends to make things more expensive, particularly airfare and London accommodation. If you’re finding your London flat through the London Relocation agency, you’re lucky that the process will be quick-n-easy; otherwise, you can bet prices for short-term accommodation will be jacked up, so you don’t want to be reserving a hotel or serviced apartment for too long.

Moving to London – The Bright Side

On the other hand, could moving to London at this time of year possibly be more awesome??! What a way to usher in your new London life with the Jubilee and Olympics centering the world’s attention on this city? It’s as if all those flags along Regent Street are welcome banners for your arrival! London could not possibly be more polished or prettier than right now—everyone has been working to re-paint, refurbish, and re-everything imaginable to have the city as sparkling as the Crown Jewels. Walking around London makes me giddy these days, as I’ve always loved it but have never seen it looking better. And if the vibe among the masses at last year’s Royal Wedding is anything to go by, consider me psyched for the energy the Jubilee and Olympics will bring. Britain couldn’t be feeling more pride right now, and even as an American expat, I feel it, too. I’m proud to live in London and experience its major moments in history right now, and I hope you will be, too, if you’re moving to London this year!

If you’re doing research into your relocation to London, then you’re probably well aware of the awesome convenience of its public transport system. The underground, taxis and buses do a fantastic job of making the city and its environs easily accessible. Admittedly, though, there are times when public transport might not be a feasible option, whether it’s because you’re too far from a station or if you’re alone and it’s late at night, perhaps you’d be more comfortable with your own form of transport rather than using the Tube, which means getting a car or a bicycle.

Relocation To London Driver’s License

One of the first things you have to do after your relocation to London is to get your license sorted out (on a side note, your American license will be good for a year before you’ll have to get a UK one). Before you even go for lessons, you have to get what’s called a ‘provisional license’. Then you take the theory test, for which you’ll have to pay £31.00. Depending on your abilities behind the wheel of a car, you might have to take lessons before you do the practical test for your license. It’s a pretty good idea to take the lessons if you’re an American moving to London, particularly if you originally drove back home in the States, as you’ve no doubt got old driving habits from back home that might not carry over comfortably to England.

Relocation To London Driving Tips

A glaringly obvious example would be the left side/ right side of the road differences between England and America. There’s more than a few people out there who, as they turn right, can’t help but unconsciously drift from the left side of the road over into the right. It’s the kind of the thing that will certainly see you getting a fail mark in your practical examination. Just to be safe, get driving lessons so that you can have those kind of habits driven out of you after your relocation to London. Then book your practical drivers’ test, for which you’ll have to pay £62.00.

It’s generally a good to have your driver’s license as not having it can be an inconvenience at times. But if you’ve just completed your relocation to London, you might want to add a GPS device to your shopping list too, just to put off getting lost in the big city.

If you’re living in London, you need to start shopping in London! If you’re lucky enough to have some cash to throw around, why not take advantage of the fact that London is, without a doubt, one of the shopping capitals of the world. You’ve got your choice of places to carry your wallet to and a plethora of things to buy for you to kit out your London flat. It’s a big city so there’s loads of shopping opportunities for you to explore.

Shopping in London Experiences

Let’s start with the obvious experience for shopping in London – Harrods. The store has about one million feet square feet of selling space and over 300 departments, including the world famous Food Hall. So you won’t struggle to find anything for dinner.

Also pay a visit to Covent Garden, for the best in High Street fashion. Up till the 1960s Covent Garden was more likely to be recognized for its fruit and veg market, but these days, its popular visit for tourist looking famous fashion labels and its top quality restaurants.

Shopping In London For Children

Do you have kids? Then it’s only right that you make a stop at Hamleys, the biggest and most famous toy shop in the entire world. Don’t think that you’ll only be able to stop for a quick fifteen minutes, and be in and out. When a toy store takes up six floors packed from top to bottom with toys and games, you’ll have to devote an entire day to shopping in London at Hamleys. And if feels a bit indulgent to be taken in by all this kiddie fare, just remind yourself that it’s not just for play, as Hamleys is over one hundred years old, which makes a valid part of London’s history.

Book Shopping In London

Are you a bit of a bookworm? Get thee down to Charing Cross Road, noted for its many book stores, from comic book stores to those stocking the classics to second hand book stores, you won’t leave disappointed. If you’re are in the vicinity of Charing Cross Road, head to St. Giles’ Circus where you’ll find Tottenham Road, where you’ll find anything and everything you’ll need to kit yourself out with the latest that electronics has to offer.

Shopping in London is an experience, whether you’re getting your groceries delivered to you London apartment, or you’re striding down the High Street on a Saturday morning looking for that perfect outfit.

Moving to London from Canada can be, as with moving to any new city, a daunting task. There’s the excitement that comes with moving to somewhere new, looking ahead to meeting new people, broadening the ol’ horizons. But then there’s also the worry of finding a suitable place to stay, the worry that you’ll struggle to adapt to your new home, having to figure things out so that you can do something as basic as go to the shops to get milk and sugar once you have moved into your new London apartment.

Moving To London From Canada Checklist

As with anything that comes with this much worry, the very best thing you can do is formulate a plan of attack, preparing in advance for whatever may lay down the road. No doubt, you’ll miss a few things and something might still pop up to spite your careful planning, but it’ll be far better than if you hadn’t done any planning before moving to London from Canada.

I’m not about lay out a plan of attack that will suit your situation, because everyone has their own particular worries and concerns. But I am going to list a general inventory of things that should concern anyone intending on moving to London from Canada (or any city for that matter).

Where you’ll be staying – London is divided into dozens of areas. Decide what kind of area you want to stay in and investigate what home would suit your situation best.

Transport – you’ll need to get around, whether by train, tram, bus or your own steam. If you’ve found a home that suits your needs, consider how you’ll be getting to and from wherever you’ll need to go.

Moving to London From Canada With Children

Do you have kids? – It’s the kind of thing that can add umpteen complications to an already complicated situation. Kids have needs, school not the least of them. If you’ve found an area that you want to move to, do you know if they have schools that can offer your kids what they need.

That’s just three points, but I think it’s already clear at this stage the kind of planning that needs to be put into moving to London from Canada. It all starts with doing as much research as you can and you’re in the best place for that right here.